Family Fun: Ideas on the Cheap

Vacations often become expensive adventures. Try these inexpensive neighborhood or backyard ideas for times you don't want to empty your wallet.

1. Backyard family night time adventure. Watch the sky, look for shooting stars, tell ghost stories, eat s'mores or popcorn. Don't send the kids out alone; head out with them.  Whether you stay out all night depends on the comfort of your air mattresses; spend the time together.

2. Park adventure. Invite all your friends, grownups and kids, to meet at the park for kite flying, relay races, a softball game, Charades, or board games. Give crazy prizes, share cookies and lemonade during an early evening.

3. Rainy day adventure. Get out colored paper, paints, old clothes or sheets, stamping materials and whatever else you have to create a play, mural on a sheet or a puppet extravaganza. Imagination has no age limit.